Everton Team News For Leeds Opener

Jarrad Branthwaite will miss Everton's 2025/26 season opener at Leeds United on Monday night (8pm BST) – but Vitalii Mykolenko, Harrison Amstrong and Nathan Patterson may feature at Elland Road.

In his pre-match press conference at Finch Farm on Friday, Blues boss David Moyes confirmed centre-back Branthwaite sustained an injury in training during the week, having featured in last Saturday's friendly against AS Roma.

He said: "Jarrad picked up an injury in training so unfortunately we are going to miss him. These things happen."

Asked whether he will have Mykolenko, Armstrong and Patterson – who all missed out against Roma – Moyes added: "We may have."

Jack Grealish became the Toffees' latest summer signing when he joined on a season-long loan from Manchester City on Tuesday. On the possibility of the England international featuring at Leeds on Monday, Moyes said: "You all need to turn up to find out! I think Jack can play in several positions – he can play as a midfield player as well. He doesn't give the ball away very often. My aim is to get Jack in positions where he can be creative for us, score and assist goals.

"I've only seen him for a few days here but he's looked fabulous and he's in good enough shape so there's lots of good things to like about Jack. I just need to make sure I get him at the right time and he's had enough minutes."

 

For Leeds, summer signings Lukas Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Sean Longstaff, Anton Stach and Lucas Perri are all bidding to make their competitive debuts for the Yorkshire club, although new centre-back Jaka Bijol serves a one-match ban.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke will make a late call on right-back Jayden Bogle who has been out with a hip flexor injury.